News

Google housing axed in city's general plan

by
Daniel DeBolt / Mountain View Voice

Council members were not moved Tuesday night by last-minute efforts by the Chamber of Commerce and the mayor to keep housing as an option for future development of Google's neighborhood north of Highway 101.

Council members voted 6-1 in a final approval of Mountain View's 2030 general plan, a kind of road map for redevelopment in key areas of the city and the culmination of four years of meetings, and a "community visioning" process in 2008.

Largely by increasing allowed building densities and heights, it encourages redevelopment along El Camino Real, in the East Whisman area, North Bayshore (north of Highway 101), Moffett Boulevard and the San Antonio Shopping Center area.

Council members removed an allowance for as many as 1,100 apartments along Shoreline Boulevard between Highway 101 and Charleston Road. The housing would likely have been used by employees of Google and other tech companies in the area and was supported strongly by the Chamber of Commerce, which posted a YouTube video promoting the idea and whose members largely support North Bayshore housing, said president Oscar Garcia.

Council member Tom Means was the sole opponent to the general plan adoption. Mayor Mike Kasperzak and John Inks supported the motion although they opposed the removal of housing in North Bayshore.

Council members had some fiery comments after having been called on by residents to explain their position against housing in North Bayshore.

"Housing by companies went out with the mining towns," said member Jac Siegel. "That just went away a long time ago. This is not a university, people need to grow up and they need to go out" of where they work.

While the discussion focused almost entirely on North Bayshore, there was dissent on the council about other parts of the general plan as well, most notably the council's move in April to allow much higher densities for key El Camino Real intersections (up to a 3.0 floor area ratio) that could mean more than the five-story buildings residents said they supported, Siegel said.

Environmentalists were split over the pitch for new housing in North Bayshore, with supporters saying it would reduce greenhouse gasses from commuters and wildlife preservationists saying it would encroach on wildlife in Shoreline Park.

"We have an increasing imbalance of more jobs and less housing," said Aaron Grossman of the Coalition for Sustainable Planning, calling for the housing. He said protests from preservationists were "long on emotion, short on vision."

"Somebody needs to tell wildlife that greenhouse gas reduction is more important than their habitat," said Siegel.

Posted by not a googler, but...
a resident of Waverly Park
on Jul 11, 2012 at 2:37 pm

Nice comments - talk about biting the hand that feeds you. What do you think would happen to your already incredibly high taxes if Google was to leave Mountain View? I understand opposition to the housing, but the name calling of Google employees? Jealously is such an ugly emotion...

I wouldn't be too mean to Google... If they get pissed & move somewhere else, Mountain View will have some tax dollars to make up in a big way. Hopefully the council & Google reps are trying to work something out that will satisfy everyone. Sure be nice if they could consider using Moffett Field in a productive way.

Posted by Steven Nelson
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Jul 11, 2012 at 3:13 pm

This was the part of the City Council meeting I stayed for. [I supported small units - I changed my previous opposition based on insufficient school tax $ from Shoreline] Bryant was a bit fiery (I more agree with Means that younger - academic types don't mind small abodes near work to start their careers). But Bryant was right - The Council and Staff did a GREAT JOB getting community input and discussion on the General Plan. The EPC was fantastic in their volunteer participation. I agree with her that this Google Pads issue was a minor blip at the end of a long successful process.
I think the council spent at least an hour and a half explaining their votes. And residents had spent at least that long in final persuasive efforts. That's the kind of democracy I love.

Posted by gcoladon
a resident of North Whisman
on Jul 11, 2012 at 3:37 pmgcoladon is a registered user.

Comparing Google employees with migrant Chinese factory workers or coal miners are pretty unusual analogies, in my opinion. Out of touch, I would hazard to say.

I think we would be better served by Council people who understood that some people have different values than they do, and that some people might want the option to live in a small, sustainable efficiency apartment and walk to work rather than have a commute to work.

Posted by Arvada
a resident of Shoreline West
on Jul 12, 2012 at 7:46 am

Wow. How can you be so critical of Google. Google gives back so much to your community.

How about free WiFi?

I think we just refreshed and painted your school a few weeks ago!

We are not even talking about the taxes they pay.
Googlers spend a lot of money in Mountain View driving revenue for your businesses.
Local construction companies have hired hundreds of worker to refit buildings and let's talk about the general look of the area around the campus and how clean they keep it.

The city realizes quite a bit of funds through Googles Recycle Program.

So get off your high horse's and realize that Google is good for Mountain View. And yes should Google decide to leave Mountain View the city would be in a world of hurt. Lot's of empty buildings and no body to back-fill the spaces.

Higher density on El Camino is the big mistake here, the last thing we need are huge buildings on El Camino, who is looking out for the people of Mountain View. As for Google they don't pay enough taxes, they sell internet ads which do not have a sales tax, maybe this could be changed.

Posted by MV Lifer
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Jul 12, 2012 at 12:53 pm

I agree that Google is fantastic for the city. The few sad sacks complaining are the usual suspects that show up on anonymous message boards. When they quit snarking and being angry w/ Google, they'll move on to cyclists, or drivers, or day workers. Ignore those who scream the loudest as they have the least to say.
I also agree this decision by the City was a good one. Everything does not have to be polarizing these days.

The city council may not know it, but Mtn View is already a company town. When Google tires of being the local cash cow and relocates to somewhere sensible, they will take the larger part of Mtn View's economy with it.

Wow at all the hate. I am a Noogler who moved in recently and am really disappointed with the responses. It's very normal in some other countries for places to offer corporate housing, and having that here will attract more interns/employees who will spend more money locally.

If you already live here (so will not be affected too much by purchasing of new apartments), why do you care? I have not heard any intelligent responses aside from people saying "Googlers are weird." Where would you *rather* people work in Mountain View?

Posted by Old Ben
a resident of Shoreline West
on Jul 13, 2012 at 10:53 am

Mountain View City Council did this because it would undermine the developers and the outrageous rents being charged in this town. Google is the only thing keeping this miserable little burg from turning into East Palo Alto. When Google leaves, Mountain View dies.

Posted by Political Insider
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Jul 13, 2012 at 11:53 am

"Comparing Google employees with migrant Chinese factory workers or coal miners are pretty unusual analogies, in my opinion. Out of touch, I would hazard to say.

I think we would be better served by Council people who understood that some people have different values than they do, and that some people might want the option to live in a small, sustainable efficiency apartment and walk to work rather than have a commute to work."

Well said. Amazing to watch some council members argue that their personal preferences should dictate their decision making. I prefer veggie burgers to beef so you should too. I prefer you should bike to work across 101, so you should too. I prefer protecting owls over humans. This council is out of touch with today's hi-tech workers. Most of them are senior, retired, unemployed. None of them have real jobs in the private sector. I hope there are candidates open to running this fall that will represent the younger hi-tech workers and not just the old-timers who already have their piece of the pie and feel that smart growth will make them worse off.

Its also sad to see so many google haters. Google provides a lot of community benefits to this town and some seem to think its OK to extort them for all its worth.

Wow, it just shows how ignorant these people are. Densely populated community is fine as long as there are some functional public transportation. I want to be green, but it's simply not an option. With such city council, it never will be an option.

Comments here from the Google haters are incredibly pathetic and borderline discriminatory.
It's so sad that our community has such morons living amongst us.

Keep in mind that apart from Google providing jobs to the residents and tax revenue to Mountain View, they also support the local community with library donations and free WIFI.

The only reason why council members are against this is because they are getting pressure from apartment complex owners who are worried they can no longer get overpriced rent. How can less traffic, less CO2 and more walking be bad for a community?

Posted by Garrett
a resident of another community
on Jul 15, 2012 at 9:26 am

Google made some purchases of land also worth pointing out some other land purchases have been made without Google. We have our share of growing companies they too need housing, offices and retail space for all their employees. We don't have to build in the North Bayshore housing I mean.

I am in favor of Google housing. They have an excellent staff of engineers, who will replace dilapidated poor quality old construction (which has deteriorated further during this recent housing crash) for brand new housing of high standards. If you stop that, Google and Silicon Valley could move elsewhere, where their housing is welcome.

Posted by Garrett
a resident of another community
on Jul 17, 2012 at 12:46 pm

Buildings like people need care, but buildings get old, they get rundown, they need good landlords. California St and those other apt. buildings can be done up to look nice. If their are people will to rent those units, they aren't going away.

Posted by Wifi nofo
a resident of Cuernavaca
on Jul 18, 2012 at 2:13 pm

The Google Wifi doesn't work. I had to buy broadband. I hate that they say they gave our city free internet when it doesn't actually work. I can never connect. I can't watch my videos either. It's not wifi if it doesn't work.

I'm glad the housing doesn't work for them because their wifi was a lie. Move on google liars.

Posted by Lori
a resident of Shoreline West
on Jul 18, 2012 at 3:28 pm

I am in favor of Google housing. Google has been good for the communities surrounding the immediate area. They have provided jobs and pay taxes. They are good neighbors and keep their properties up while creating a nice atmosphere on the streets. Yes all their buildings are full of employees that come to work there and many of them contribute to the traffic jam on Shoreline/101. However I doubt the person who is willing to live in a single room dorm like place drives to work. I am not crazy about the idea of all the apartments being so small and would prefer the they be varied in sizes from studios to 1 bdr places where employees could stay a while and become vested in the community. There is so much demand on housing as it is and the price for an entry level employee or a couple to live anywhere that is not run down is becoming impossible to find. Yes there are apartments on California but it does not appear they are having trouble renting them even though some of them look to be in bad shape.
Google is a good company and I am sorry to read so many mean comments here. I do not work for them nor do I know anyone that does but I do have a nearby business there and they have been great neighbors. I am sure the housing project would be a nice addition to the neighborhood.

Good, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Besides google is runnIng all the mom and pop Bussiness out!! And when google pulls out, which they will one day, them MV will be going..."gee I guess we f#^ked up"...

Posted by Garrett
a resident of another community
on Jul 18, 2012 at 9:31 pm

Mom and Pop stores or family stores depend on 2 big things, good customer base and good rent. We more retail places where family run businesses and thrive, mom and pop stores can find a place We need to build some places where people can live and walk to shops, we need to stop catering to fast food and big chains stores. we have lots of places on El Camino that need to be fixed up, better parking and nicer retail friendly places

Posted by G-Fresh
a resident of Castro City
on Jul 19, 2012 at 7:26 am

Google killed my mom and pop business, 'wherecanifindwhatiwanttofindontheinternet.com'. It was such a simple and straightforward name too. All the senior citizens I talked to absolutely loved it. I got all my family to use it, and I had 100 hits per day! Then google moved in, and I don't get anything. I hate you google. You stole my dream of helping people findhwhattheywantontheinternet.

Posted by Google doesn't have to move
a resident of Monta Loma
on Jul 19, 2012 at 3:59 pm

They can always open a new office in SJ, i hear there is a lot of open land down there. Something does not sound right about sardine dorms for people working for a company. What happens when they marry and have kids, then what? And they will need cars, at least to go to El comino for the great food at chick-fill-a.

Mt. View was fine before google arrived and it will be fine if they ever leave. So all this talk about there leaving is bs.

Free wfi, that's a joke. That's just another way for them to track of what you do online.

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